Apparatus for producing copper and other metal rods and the like



NOV. 5, 1935. J KQHLHAAS 2,019,496

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPPER AND OTHER METAL RODS AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1 5 Fi .4.

lNVENTOR ATTORNEY Em 1%. V k

1935- F. J. KOHLHAAS 2,019,496

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPPER AND OTHER METAL RODS AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1933 A. s Sheets-$het 2 J-NVENTOR E'am/ c J Koh Zhaas WORN Y Nov. 5, 1935. F. J. KOHLHAAS 2,019,496

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPPER AND OTHER METAL RODS AND THE LIKE INVENTOR Q5 Frargf J Kohl haas.

WTTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATESKPATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COPPER AND OTHER METAL RODS AND THE LIKE Frank J. Kohlhaas, Calumet, Mich. Application May 24, 1933, Serial No. 672,532

/ 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-75) This invention relates to an apparatus for the production of copper and other metal rods, wires and the like and more particularly for the casting of a continuous metal rod or strip.

One object of: my present invention is to provide improved means for casting copper rods in such a manner that the molten metal is solidified without undue exposure to the atmosphere, in order to avoid unnecessary oxidation and to thus increase theconductivity of the copper rod.

\ A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby molten metal is fed by gravity to a travelling member upon which it is caused to solidify to form a continuous rod which is con-- veyed to one or more sets of forming rolls or the like. v

Another object of my invention is to provide a rod or wire forming apparatus comprising means for feeding a continuous stream ofmolten metal to a groove in a rotating table in combination with means for receiving the solidified metal from the said groove and for conveying the same continuously to suitable forming mechanism.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing one form of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side view-partly in section-showing a portion of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a cross section of a rod as it is received from the casting table; Fig; 4 is a similar view showing the rod after it has passed between thehforming rolls;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing one form of apparatus for supplying the molten metal in a continuous stream; Fig. 6 is a plan view of one form of the casting table; Fig. 7 is a front view, partly in section, showing the said table; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail side view looking on the left hand side of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a detail section showing means for deflecting the metal rod from the table; Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line X-X Fig. 9 and Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a portionof a modified form of casting table.

50 The copper, copper alloy or other metal to form the rods or wires is melted in a furnace or melting pot I 0, Fig. 5', and the molten metal flows through a bottom aperture ll into a pot l2 comprising an inner lining l3 andif de- 55 sired-an electrical heating element l4 and hav-' ing a gate or s'pout l5 fromwhich the molten metal may pass by gravity in the form of a continuous stream l6 which is received upon-the travelling table I1 which latter is moved conv tinuously at a speed equal to the rate of flow of 6 the stream H5 or at a speed having a definite relation to said rate of fiow..

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the table I! is formed with an' annular groove l8 which receives the continuous stream l6 of molten 1 metal at the point indicated by the dotted circle l3 at Fig. ,1 as the table I! is rotated in the direction of the arrow (anti-clockwise) by means of a shaft 20 and worm gear 2|, and at the point 22 the solidified metal strip 8 is removed from the groove l8 by contact with a fixed deflecting member 9 (Fig. 2 and Figs. 9 and 10) and is directed through a stationary guide tube or tunnel. 23 which latter is mounted upon the ends of the tank 24 and is curved, as shown at Fig. 2, so that 20 the metal rod in the tunnel 23 is passed through a bath of cooling liquid 25 which "liquid has access to the rod through perforations 26 in the tunnel or tube. From the outlet end of the tunnel I 23, the rod 8, having a cross section as shown 25 at Fig. 3', is directed to suitably grooved forming rolls 1 by which the cross sectional formation of the rod is changed to circular form as shown at Fig. 4, or to other cross sectional formation 30 as may be desired.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the travelling table ll issecured upon a vertical rotary spindle 26 mounted on thrust bearings 21 on a base 28 and having anti-friction bearings 29 in a top frame 30. In the form shown the table I I com 35 prises a wheel having a hub 3| with spokes .32 carrying a rim-33 which latter is formed in its upper face with the groove 3 and with a second concentric groove 34. The grooves I8, 34

may be of similar contour so that two similar 40 rods may be cast simultaneously, or the said grooves may be of different contours so that rods of different cross section or of different thick-' ness or gage may be produced. The top frame 30 is supported from the bottom frame 28 by means of three uprights 35.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, one of the uprights 35 may be provided with a collar 36 supporting a bracket 31 from which extends a roller 38 adapted to engagea swinging member 39 mounted on a flat spring 40 carried on the underside of the table I! at the point 4|, and secured to'the member 39 are two'plungers 42, 43 located in the two grooves l8, 34 respectively, and thegarrangement is such that, as the table II rotates and the member 39 engages the roller 38, each of the plungers 42, 43 is raised in its groove in such manner that the strip or rod of solidified metal is forced upwardly out" of the groove so that it may be readily deflected and introduced into the receiving end of the guide tube or tunnel 23 at the commencement of the operation. The plungers 42, 43 may be rendered inoperative by swinging the roller 38 out of the path of the member 39, and during normal running of the apparatus the solidified metal rod is guided from the table by the deflecting member 9 which remains fixed in position as shown at Figs. 9 and 10. The deflecting member 9 may be carried on a collar or" 'form of table in which a rotating shaft 44 has a hollow body 45(mounted thereon and secured thereto by means of a key 46. Mounted in this hollow table or body 45 is a plate 41 having a depending annular flange 48 with "openings 49 for the passage of cooling liquid while openings 50 are provided in the plate 41 outside said flange. The lower face of the table is closed by means of a plate 5| having a packing ring 52 and securing screws 53. The space between the plates 41 and 5| communicates with a bore 54 which opens into an annular groove 55 in,the shaft 44 while a stationary collar 55 'has atwater pipe 51 by means of which cooling liquid may be supplied to the groove 55 and bore 54. Fromthe said space below the pl e 41 the cooling water passes through the openings 49, 50 to theupper space and from thence to a bore 58 which communicates with a groove 59 in the shaft 44 while a stationary collar 60 is provided with a pipe 5| to receive the cooling liquid from-said groove 59 A and bore 58.-

Although the drawings and the above speciflcation disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure for, in the further practical application of my invention, many changes in. the methd of operation and in the construction of the apparatus may be made as circumstances require l or experience suggests without departing from the F n I spirit of the invention .within the scope of the appended claims, and while the invention may be applied to the production of metallic rods, wires and strips of many and various kinds, it is primarily intended for the continuous production of rods of copper and copper alloys 6f high conductivity. a

What I claini is: I

1. Apparatus for casting continuous rods of a copper and other metal comprising means for melting the metal and delivering the same in a.

, molten stream of uniform flow, a uniformly travelling member for receiving the stream of metal in the form of an arc, means for removing the a solidified metal continuously from said-moving member, means for rolling the metal, and means between said member and the rolling means for cooling the metal and simultaneously straightening out the said arc.

2. Apparatus for casting metal rods coinprising means for melting the metal and for delivering a continuous stream of uniform flow, a

rotating table, an endless groove formed in the table and receiving the stream of molten metal, means for'rotating the'table to convey the metal from the stream as it solidifies thereon, means for removing the strip of solidified .metal from the groove after the 'metal'upon the table has passed through a substantial portion of one complete revolution, and a guiding tunnel for deflecting and straightening the strip of metal.

3. Apparatus for casting and rolling metal rods comprising a grooved rotary member, means for delivering a uniform and continuous flow of molten metal to the groove in said member, means q for removing the solidified metal from said groove only after it has passed through a substantial portion of one complete revolution and means including a guiding tunnel and a liquid bath for deflecting, cooling and shaping the solidified on metal received from said groove.

V 4, Apparatus for use in the casting of copper and other metal rods comprising a rotating wheel,

a groove concentric with the axis of the wheel',-

a pot for receiving molten metal, a spout in said J. Kommas. u 

